September art calendar: 16 exhibits to brave the rain for
September in the Philippines means monsoon rains, swollen streets, and the usual struggle with floodwaters. But for the local art community, it also means a season of relentless creativity. From Makati galleries to a historic hotel lobby in Manila, artists are mounting shows that dig into our histories, question our systems, and find beauty in the everyday. Here are the exhibits worth getting wet for this month.
What's on at León Gallery, Modeka Art, and the Met?
Anna Bautista's Undergrowth at León Gallery International (Sept. 10 to 24) turns Victorian floriography into a quiet protest. As Kim Escalona writes, a garden can conceal as much as it reveals. Bautista paints petals from contracts, employment papers, and birth certificates, documents that can make or break a life. It's a call for civic responsibility wrapped in something pretty.
Over at Modeka Art, Beyond Existing Forces (Sept. 10 to Oct. 3) brings together Ally Tresvalles, Auspicious Family, Diego Aquilizan, Herald Stalin, Nash Cruz, and Shara Francisco in an all-video presentation. Curated by Christina Lopez, the show spans sound, projection, collage, animation, and installation. Tresvalles' documentation of buntal weaving is a standout, a nod to our provincial crafts.
At the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Behind the Lens: Cultural and Border Crossings, 1950-2000s (Aug. 6 to Oct. 11) pairs the photographs of writer F. Sionil Jose with the work of photojournalists George Gascon, Romeo Gacad, and Xyza Cruz Bacani. Presented with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, it asks what a photograph reveals about the person behind the camera.
Where can you catch new works by Dex Fernandez and Tosha Albor?
Dex Fernandez is back with GC4: A Walk Home (Sept. 10 to Oct. 10). Details are under wraps, but a new Dex show is always worth the trip.
Tosha Albor's Invasive Species at Artinformal (Sept. 9 to Oct. 9) looks at plants and their colonial histories of displacement, from Rhododendron ponticum in the UK to Opuntia cacti in Spain. The Filipino-American artist turns spaces of loss into resilient ecosystems.
What's new at Silverlens and Artinformal?
Wawi Navarroza opens the first installment of her trilogy, The Orchid Pavilion, at Silverlens Manila (Aug. 29 to Oct. 3). Titled The Double-Naveled and Triple-Tongued, A Tropical Gothic Troika, it explores the Philippines' pan-Asian heritage, especially the deep-rooted Chinese presence. Navarroza uses her own body to inhabit different identities, reimagining Manila as a cosmopolitan meeting point.
MM Yu continues her signature dripping technique in sum of its parts at Silverlens (Aug. 29 to Oct. 3). She also presents Untitled Pantone, 500 pictures from urban environments. As Chesca Santiago notes, Yu responds to an art ecology that operates on constant making.
At Artinformal, Lesley Anne Cao's Atlas in a bright room (Sept. 9 to Oct. 9) examines animals on paper currency from around the world. Zean Cabangis' Greatest Species (Sept. 9 to Oct. 9) layers fragments of places he has passed, with cranes and billboards caught between development and collapse.
Are there shows outside Manila worth the trip?
Yes. Unconditional at YOD Gallery in Tokyo (Sept. 9 to Oct. 3) brings Filipino artists including E.S.L Chen, Patrick De Veyra, Martin Honasan, and Isadore Lerio for Tennoz Art Week. It considers the conditions of memory and culture through materials and time.
Closer to home, Holding Structures, Soft Bodies at Gajah Gallery Manila (Sept. 12 to Oct. 11) features Indonesian artist Jemana Murti, whose 3D-printed works recall Yves Klein, alongside Kayleigh Goh and Singaporean artist Sarah Choo Jing.
What about the hotel shows?
Fort & Tailler opens its showroom at the New World Makati Hotel for Dark Matter (Sept. 12), featuring Richard Buxani, Robert Besana, Allen Sanchez, and others. It kicks off a collaboration with The Monarch.
At The Peninsula Manila, Echoes of Horizon: Art in Resonance (Sept. 4 to Oct. 30) fills the lobby with works by National Artist Arturo Luz, Ramon Orlina, and others. Curator Gaby dela Merced says the multigenerational lineup reflects the passage of time. Luz's towering Anito sculpture stands near the check-in counters.
Other shows include Bitto's flower | bird | wind | moon at Vinyl on Vinyl (Sept. 5), Mark Andy Garcia's Mga Pahiwatig ng Isang Pintor at West Gallery (Sept. 10 to Oct. 10), and Lou Lim's Mending - An Opening at Finale Art File (Sept. 10 to Oct. 3).
Frequently asked questions about the September art calendar
Which exhibits are free to visit?
Most gallery shows, including those at Silverlens, Artinformal, and West Gallery, are free. Hotel shows like Echoes of Horizon at The Peninsula Manila are also open to the public without charge.
Are there any exhibits focused on Filipino identity?
Yes. Wawi Navarroza's The Orchid Pavilion and Anna Bautista's Undergrowth both explore Filipino identity, history, and social responsibility through different lenses.
Can I visit these exhibits if I'm outside Manila?
Most shows are in Makati and Manila. For those abroad, Unconditional in Tokyo runs until Oct. 3.